The Hijlory of 



Book J 



take the Oyfters which are commonly fattened to the Rocks, 

 that they get them thence by violence, and come up loaden 

 with them : Whence they conclude, that it cannot be well main- 

 tained , that thofe Oyfters which are fallen d to the rocks 

 fuck in the dew , and that thence comes the generation of 

 Pearls. 



But not to enter into any conteftation with thefe Gentle- 

 men, nor yet abfolutely to reject: their opinion which hath its 

 grounds, we may affirm, that the true account given by Acojia 

 of the fifhing for Pearls makes nothing againft the opinion 

 commonly receiv'd of their generation $ for it is not impoffible 

 but that the Mother-Pearls which have conceived of the Dew, 

 feeling themfelves burthened with that precious fruit, have no 

 great inclination to appear ever afterwards on the furface of 

 the waters 5 and being fatLfi'd with the treafure they are pof- 

 fefs'd of, they from thenceforth faften themfelves to the rocks, 

 whence they cannot be gotten off without violence. 



Of fever al other forts of Shells. 



THofe who living in populous Cities would counterfeit Dc- 

 ferts, tvocks and folitary Places, or in their Gardens 

 raife little Hills, under which there fliould beGrotts en com- 

 pafs d with all the moft curious fpoils of Sea and Land, might 

 find in moft of thefe Iflands what may iatisfie their humor : 

 This only is to be feared, that abundance and diverfity would 

 puzzle their choice, and ©ccafion a certain contempt of them. 

 There are on the Coafts of thefe Iflands an infinite multitude of 

 feveral forts of Shells, efpecially thofe of the Sea-tops, Whelks^ 

 &c. which have no names among us, whereof fome are of a 

 ftlver-colour, fome full of ftars, fome (anguine, fome green 3 

 fome ftreaked with carnation, fome checquer'd with leveral 

 forts of colours, which makethem (hine along the fands likefo 

 many precious ftones : The Sun extreamly heightens their lu- 

 ftre and beauty j and when after an extraordinary tempeft the 

 Sea hath emich'd the furface of thofe fliores with thefe little 

 fparkling gems, the eye is fo dazzled at it, that a man cannot 

 but acknowledg that Nature loves to make different demon- 

 ftrations of her power, and (hews what (he can do, when (he 

 beftows fo much beauty, and fo many rich ornaments on thefe 

 little inconfiderable Creatures. 



The Savage Iflanders fometimes gather thefe little play-games 

 of the Sea, only for diverfion fake, and having made holes in 

 them put them on ftringsfor Neck-laces and Bracelets.-But moft: 

 of the Southern part of America have a far greater efteem for 

 them 5 for they drive a Trade with them, and they are in fome 

 places the current Money, and thofe who have moft (hells are 

 accounted the richeft. The Shells ufed for this purpofe are of a 



pretty 



